Ky. firm successfully fights prison over Air Force jackets

WASHINGTON -- The federal government is ending any plans to give a contract for Air Force jackets to federal prisoners, a move that would have closed a Kentucky company and left 100 people out of work.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., received an e-mail Friday from the Federal Bureau of Prisons saying it was not going to seek the jacket work.

The Courier-Journal reported Friday that Ashland Sales and Service, in Olive Hill, Ky., was facing the end of a five-year, $20 million contract to produce as many as 70,000 jackets a year for the Air Force. They are the same jackets presidents wear on Air Force One.

"Confirming our phone conversation, Federal Prison Industries does not intend to pursue a contract for the Air Force jacket . . . due to the potential adverse impact on private sector business," the prison bureau official said in the e-mail to McConnell, obtained by The Courier-Journal.

"I communicated this decision to (the Defense Logistics Agency) earlier today and we will follow up with a formal letter to them," the official added. "DLA may now discontinue the market research process and proceed with competitive bidding. Federal Prison Industries will not be submitting a bid on this contract."

McConnell previously had said he was stunned that the government would compete for work in a way that would put private sector employees in the unemployment line. He pressured federal officials to change course.

"This is great news for the entire Olive Hill community," the senator said in a statement. "I am pleased the right decision was made and the jobs of the 100 hard- working employees at the company will now be saved."

The (Louisville) Courier-Journal is a Gannett media company.